Northwestern
5-6
The Citadel
8-5
'Cats Fall in Series Opener at The Citadel
3/7/2025 6:32:00 PM | Baseball
CHARLESTON, S.C. – Northwestern dropped its series opener to The Citadel 4-2 on Friday afternoon at Joseph J. Riley, Jr. Park.
After a scoreless first inning, the hosts got on the board in the second. The Bulldogs strung together a few hits and drew first blood on an RBI single by OF Matthew Lively to take a 1-0 lead.
The Citadel added on in the bottom of the third with a solo home run by C Garrett Fulmer to double its lead. The Bulldogs plated a pair in the bottom of the fifth to extend the lead to 4-0.
Northwestern trimmed the deficit in the bottom of the sixth. OF Preston Knott and INF Owen McElfatrick singled to lead off the frame and advanced a base on a failed pickoff attempt by the pitcher. Knott came around to score on a wild pitch to put the Wildcats on the board, and McElfatrick scored on a sacrifice fly by C Bennett Markinson.
With one out in the top of the ninth, Kucherak tripled down the right field line, bringing the tying run to the plate. RHP Anthony Hausner closed out the game for the Citadel with a groundout and a strikeout, earning his third save of the year.
LHP Crawford Wade (1-2) is credited with the loss, surrendering four runs on eight hits, walking three and striking out three.
LHP Will Holmes (3-0) earned the win, allowing two runs on four hits, walking three and fanning six.
Game Notes
- RHP Jack Grunkemeyer worked a pair of scoreless innings, walking one and conceding a hit, striking out one.
- OF Preston Knott extended his on-base streak to 11 games.
- OF Jackson Freeman added a pair of hits, recording his second multi-hit game of the year.
The Wildcats and Bulldogs are set to square off in a doubleheader on Saturday, with game one beginning at 12 p.m. CT. Sunday's series finale is slated for 12 p.m. CT. All games are set to be broadcast on ESPN+.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Will Holmes (3-0)
L: Wade, Crawford (1-2)
S: Anthony Hausner (3)
Batting:
3B: Kucherak, Ryan 1
RBI: Markinson, Bennett 1
SF: Markinson, Bennett 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Knott, Preston 1 ; McElfatrick, Owen 1
CS: Kucherak, Ryan 1
PO: Kucherak, Ryan 1 ; Counsell, Jack 1
Batting:
HR: Garrett Fulmer 1
RBI: Garrett Fulmer 1 ; Lane Tobin 1 ; Matthew Lively 1
SH: Lane Tobin 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Garrett Dill 1 ; Thomas Rollauer 1 ; Garrett Fulmer 2
SB: Garrett Dill 2 ; Thomas Rollauer 1
CS: Phillips Daniels 1
HBP: Travis Elliott 1 ; Garrett Dill 1 ; Noah Cadiz 1
PO: Phillips Daniels 1
